nuclear verdict

A nuclear award is a jury award in the plaintiff's favor that exceeds $10 million. Such verdicts are "nuclear" because they are unpredictable, unexpectedly large, and can devastate a business. They often involve catastrophic injuries or tragic deaths. Nuclear verdicts are increasing in size and frequency, and their unpredictability can make them hard to prevent. Such a verdict can damage a company's reputation, increase its insurance costs, limit its coverage options, and even threaten its existence. It can harm a business even if it is overturned or substantially reduced by an appellate court.